OTHER WILDLIFE

[mike243]

It is amazing if you stand still and quiet not even fully hidden for any length of time how the local wildlife come right up before they see you if they see you at all, I was out this morning for 2 hours and had a buzzard land in the next tree not 15 feet away and a couple of squirrels only 8 or 9 feet away totally oblivious that I was there, then a muntjac doe with the tiniest calf walked up to within less than 20 feet, they were both looking straight at me either trying to work out what I was or more likely wondering what is that tool doing stood there under that tree in the pi**ing rain, before they just wandered off, over the years I have had scores of instances much the same, Hares seem particularly oblivious to what is going on around them, I've even had them walk to within a few feet when stood still in the middle of a track, as long as you are down wind

 

[VSS]

One of the greatest pleasures of stalking is all of the other stuff you see. The reason why I love sitting in a highseat at dusk or dawn.

 

[Camelfarm]

Sat under my favourite resting tree the other day- nice buttress root at exactly the right height for a sit down - and a tawny owl swooped onto a low branch about 5 yards from me. We checked each other out for a few minutes and off he went.

I know a guy up in the East Midlands who had an owl on the rail of his seat for about 10 minutes one autumn dawn.

 

[plonker]

I had a small bird land on the end of my rifle, only for a second before it realised I was holding the rifle.

 

[mike243]

Sat under my favourite resting tree the other day- nice buttress root at exactly the right height for a sit down - and a tawny owl swooped onto a low branch about 5 yards from me. We checked each other out for a few minutes and off he went.

I know a guy up in the East Midlands who had an owl on the rail of his seat for about 10 minutes one autumn dawn.

the other wildlife is half of the enjoyment, I carp fished from 1978 until about 8 years ago and many many times had a kingfisher land on my rods, never did manage to get a photo though as much as I tried

 

[pob]

My favourite hunting memories are often related to the other wildlife I've encountered. Out for red deer earlier this year in Devon I had three voles arguing noisily around my feet for half an hour where I'd blocked one of their runs (I assume). When wildfowling once I had a Peregrine about to land on my head, thinking I was a post. When I turned, the talons were inches from my face and I could feel the draught as it beat its wings frantically trying to reverse away. I was surprised, but I think it was more so.

 

[Covert]

Not sure if it’s because I am getting older, have been doing it for a very long time. One of life’s great pleasures for me is early mornings watching the natural world wake up and evenings watching it go to sleep.
Pulling the trigger is just a bonus

 

[kripton]

Fly fishing our local brook under a tunnel of trees - waiting for a particular trout to take my fly when a kingfisher lands on my rod - I daren't move or blink but eventually had to breathe after about a minute and it then flew off.

 

[Dickie]

Many years ago led up and a blackbird landed on my head.

 

[hammo]

Had a roe doe come up and sniff my boot, I was nestled in the base of an old oak, waiting for squirrels on a feeder.

 

[Brighty3006]

Also had a barn owl land on the front rail of my highseat. Absolutely brilliant

 

[Pete6.5]

I had a squirrel sat on my knee once

 

[Sitka]

Was kneeling in a river waiting for a trout to start rising when an otter came floating downstream on its back. It passed within 2ft of me in broad daylight, the look on its face was disbelief....it kept that look until it passed out of sight bobbing downriver.

 

[Bo Diddley]

Was kneeling in a river waiting for a trout to start rising when an otter came floating downstream on its back. It passed within 2ft of me in broad daylight, the look on its face was disbelief....it kept that look until it passed out of sight bobbing downriver.

How long before the trout settled down again... I have had similar on a tiny pool on the Nar, upset the trout for a few minutes then they started to drift back into position. Wonderful insight!

 

[Len the dog]

I always enjoy seeing the amount of life out at night with the thermal, badgers in particular will almost be upon me before they sense my presence. Voles scurrying everywhere and partridges running around the stubbles like headless chickens.
I once watched a cock pheasant pecking around in the rape well after dark, I always assumed they would be up to roost before darkness fell.
To be perfectly honest I must have missed many opportunities because my attention has wandered to watching the wildlife.

 

[nun_hunter]

This is when sitting in a highseat (or hidden in the woods) beats moving about on a stalk just for everything else you see. Squirrels often come into the tree right behind the highseat and deer regularly walk right under it. At this time of year seeing the fawn's playing and being silly is a joy to watch.

A couple of weeks ago I went with a friend to a place where he stalks and could see a barn owl box the owners put up that had 5 chicks in it (they'd been ringed the week previously by The Barn Owl Trust) and the parents were trying to encourage them to come out and start moving around the branches.

This then reminded me of a time I saw a barn owl patrolling some rough ground and take a break on a dead tree, so I gave a squeak and it flew straight at me, landed on the highseat rail and sat they're twisting its head trying to work out what was going on. A was rock still and could only think "bloody hell those talons could do some serious harm". A truly memorable experience.

 

[Sitka]

How long before the trout settled down again... I have had similar on a tiny pool on the Nar, upset the trout for a few minutes then they started to drift back into position. Wonderful insight!

Within a minute I would say, seemed like they knew hunting wasn't on its mind!

 

[Ratel]

A normal lovely evening last night and a quiet tour round, really have got to move a hare or two. Big bunch of fallow but wind wrong and they were very alert. 60 or so wild pheasants moving to roosting cover and a couple of Covey's of English, larger one of French. Moved to favourite watching spot along the river to see a Roe doe and kid leave the game cover and a Barn owl hunting the river edge. A big group of fallow just over the boundary and four Muntjac in the field adjacent. Watched a little Munty doe come to 50 yards but the rifle remained static, if I'd shot it would have spoiled a perfect evening, and as I watched the moon rise I was very content with my way of life.

 

[Terrydeer]

When you read through the above tales of stalking we are all lucky to be out in such lovely places, the fact that we take in and marvel at what we see, to me speaks volumes of the people on this forum

 

[Terrydeer]

Yesterday morning